ORADEA (FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship Division B 2016) – We take a look at the participants who will step out in Groups A and B of the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship Division B 2016 in Oradea.

Netherlands are likely to be favourite to ride into pole position in Group A as they have experience from last summer – albeit a relegation campaign in Matosinhos. The likes of Zoe Slagter and Robyn Bouwer are just a couple of the players who will want to make amends and help their country make an instant return to the top flight.

Slovenia will also want to bury agony from 2015 as they were the Semi-Final team who missed out on promotion in Ohrid and Struga although two big preparation defeats against Sweden may have knocked confidence. Ana Saric may be their best source of joy to try and pick them up and hit the ground running.

Austria may be something of a surprise package as they contemplate a third straight appearance at the event for the first time, buoyed by the fact that they could improve on their two wins in 2015 as a number of players make a return, including Anja Knoflach who could be influential.

Israel should be counting on Ayala Roth and Offir Kesten Raz again having placed ninth last summer, while Estonia make a return to the tournament after skipping last year. The last time they played in 2014, they dug out a trio of wins.

Ayala Roth is likely to try and fire Israel from the backcourt again.

The group underdogs are likely to be Cyprus who will play at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship Division B for the first time, having previously played sporadically in Division C in recent years.

Greece could be the team to beat in Group B, although their eighth-place finish last summer was not where they wanted to be. Whether they can improve and make a stronger push for promotion at this edition remains to be seen as a largely new generation takes the reins, with only Ionna Chatzivasileiou and Anastasia Karampatsou eligible to take to the floor again.

Ukraine are usually a threat on paper but have struggled to translate that into serious promotion pushes and certainly the four years they spent in Division A between 2005 and 2008 is now a distant memory.

Denmark finished one spot higher than Ukraine last summer, so will want to continue that trend. They are likely to have their challenge spearheaded by the continued stellar work of 2001-born sensation Frida Formann who led her country in points, rebounds and assists at the previous edition of the tournament.

Iceland almost caused a sensation at the recent FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship Division B in Sarajevo by just missing out on promotion and a first-ever Division A slot at any level. So that kind of progress in being a challenger will want to be continued in Oradea as they return to Division B, having won Division C last summer – but with an all 1999-born team who won’t be back.

Luxembourg also didn’t feature in this competition last year and they are back too, with the memories of a famous win against Switzerland to draw inspiration from as they look to get another win on the board.

Perhaps it will be against Albania who actually made their FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship Division B debut in 2015 and after seven losses, are heading to Romania looking to register a historical maiden victory.

FIBA